BACKGROUND 

In contrast to businesses providing shareholder value through revenue generation and profit sharing, the public sector operates from a monetary public entrustment to provide public goods and services for the benefit of society, referred to as the generation of public value. The public investments made to generate public goods obligate the public sector to understand the vision and goals of the served community. Further, the public sector must be efficient, effective, and resilient in managing its resources to create public value.   

Transportation agencies build public value through their investments in transportation networks and services for system users by providing safe and efficient access to destinations. Ideally, this public value would reinforce sustained public confidence in transportation agencies to achieve societal goals through investments in projects and services. However, quantifying and communicating public value is a challenge to transportation agencies at all levels of government. Research is needed to assist transportation agencies in identifying and communicating the public value generated for communities.  

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to develop a guide that (1) defines public value for transportation agencies; (2) identifies methods for assessing, measuring, and communicating the public value generated by transportation; and (3) showcases the role public value creation plays in achieving societal goals.